Safety chain clasp



Aug-4, 1925. 1,548,274

- a J. F. MITCHELL SAFETY CHAIN CLASP Filed Jan. 2, 1925 ATTORN Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

' finssn r. nemia; or onroaeo, ILLINOIS; I

' sArnrY'oHAm CLASP.

Application filed lanuary 2, 1925. Serial No. 250.

@ To alliwhomz'tmay concern:

wBe it known that I, J ESSE F. M1ToHELL,'a citizen ofthe -United States, and a resident 'ofGhicago, in the countyofCook and State of Illinois-have invented a new and useful Improvement in-Safety Chain Clasps, of which the following is a-..full, clear-, and exact: description. q

-My. invention relates to'improvements in safety chain clasps," and more particularly to that) type of clasp' intended for use with necklaces, lavallieres and the like, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a clasp of the character described in which the cooperating members of the clasp may not be disengaged without first compressing a portion of one of the members.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clasp of the character described in which novel means is provided for facilitating the engagement of the cooperating members of the clasp and by means of which operative engagement of the members may be performed by feeling the members, thus permitting actuation of the clasp in the dark or behind the neck of the wearer.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clasp of the character described which is extremely light in construction and which is ornamental in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a view of an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view of the device shown in Figure 1 with the clasp member partially disengaged, and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I make use of an ornamental chain or necklace 1 terminating at each end in an ornamental metal ring 2 and 3 respectively.

The ring 2 forms one of the cooperating members of my improved clasp.

The principal cooperating member is shown at 4 and is substantially in the shape of a figure 8, having one of its loops greater than theremaining one. The loop 5 which is the smaller of the two is forthe purpose of receiving the ring 3 as shownin Figure-1. V i

The member 4 is construotedof a single piece of stiff resilient metal wire, one end 6 of which is curved inwardly and'terminates at the upper end of the larger of the loops of the figure 8. The opposite end 7 is substantially S-shaped in contour (see Figure 1) and terminates at 8 adjacentto 1 that end of the larger loop nearest to the loop 5. There is sufficient clearance normally between the end 8 and the adjacent portion of the member 4 to permit the passage of the ring 2 thereby.

It will be noted that the larger of the loops of the member 4 is substantially pearshaped. This is for the purpose of normally guiding the ring 2 to the position shown in Figure 1 when the chain or the necklace 1 is about the neck of the wearer, and thus holding the ring 2 at a point removed from the S-shaped portion 7 of the member 4.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. In removing the ring 2 from engagement with the member 4, the wearer moves the ring 2 in the direction of the arrow 9 (see Figure 1). Continued movement of the ring 2 in this direction will cause the S-shaped member 7 to be flexed toward the adjacent portions of the member 4 as shown in Figure 2. It will be noted that to move the ring to the position shown in Figure 2 certain force must be applied to overcome the resistance offered by the member 7 The ring 2 may then be passed between the end 8 and the adjacent portion of the member 4 and moved upwardly in a direction opposite to the arrow 9, and finally over the portion 6 and Entirely out of engagement with the mem- To disengage the cooperating members 2 and 4 the steps just described are reversed, i. e., the ring 2 is moved over the end 6 and downwardly, as viewed in Figure 1, beyond the end 8 and thence up over the portion 7 to the position shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted that the contour and po-.

sition of the end 6 permits engagement of the ring 2 with the member 4 without the necessity of closely watching the members. Thus the members may be initially engaged behind the neck of the wearer by determinmgt the position of the members by touch. A er the clasp has been used a few times,

the wearer may quickly disengage and en-,

gage the members 2, ascertaining their relative positions entirely by feeling bers.

I claim:

1. A safety chain clasp of the character cooperating member therewith.

2. A safety chain clasp of the character 2 described comprising a pair of cooperating the memmembers, one of said members being substantially in the shape ofia figureS each of said members being arranged for connection, with the opposite ends of a necklace chain or the like, and means associated with said members for preventing the unintentional disengagement thereof.

3. ,;A safety chain clasp of the character described comprising a pair of cooperating members, one of said members beln substantially in the shape of a figure each of said members being arranged for connection with the opposite ends of a necklace chain or the like, means associated with said members for preventing the unintentional disengagement thereof, and other means associated with one of said members for facilitating the engagement of its 00- 

